Stories about life; past, and present

Make This New Year a Great One!

It’s a new year!! Let’s make this year one we will remember as a wonderful, positive, love filled one.

Make a difference

We may not be able to change the world, but we can make a difference in the lives of those who live around us, whether they be strangers, neighbors, coworkers, people we pass on the street or in the grocery store. Whether they be cash register attendants, policemen, teachers, poor, African American, Asian American, Muslim or Hindu or any other different culture, religion or race.

Be the one

Be the one who makes life better, even if it is only in our little part of the world. We can start ripples of kindness that can expand to people we may never meet. This video, titled “Unsung Hero,” exemplifies the chain effect we can cause in our own little worlds.

Kindness reciprocates

By giving kindness or even a smile to others we too may receive a wonderful feeling of warmth or joy or peace of mind knowing that we helped someone instead of tearing them down or making their life worse.

Do unto others….

Treating others like we would like to be treated is not just a Christian idea. Other world religions hold the same recommendation. For example”Hurt not others with that which pains yourself,” is a quote from 560 BC from the Buddhist Udanavarga 5:18.

What if we were them?

Try to show some love, patience, compassion, empathy, and friendliness to those who are feeling sad, depressed, overwhelmed or lost. When we encounter someone not doing their job as well as usual, ask them if they are okay. They may have more burdens on their shoulders or more pain in their lives than we know. We may feel that way ourselves someday. Think how it would feel if we were in their shoes.

Remember other earth dwellers

Remember the animals and plants and insects living on this earth and have consideration for their lives, when possible, regardless of how small or insignificant they may seem. Protect them when we can because all life has meaning to the one who holds it. Scientists are finding such amazing, useful facts about plant and even insect lives that may be of value someday. Cherish this world and those who live with us or on this earth.

Life is precious.

We need to cherish our own lives and take care of ourselves. We need to commit to understanding ourselves and others in order to make compassion and empathy a way of life. We need to put ourselves in the other person’s situation and think how differently or more often than not how similarly we would handle the same situation.

Study yourself

We need to better learn who we are and commit to healing the wounds that plague us and make our lives and those around us less than peaceful. Learn to love yourself and see yourself as others see you. It can be a positive and eye opening experience.

“Love your neighbor as yourself”

Above all else, remember that love is the most important thing in the world: “Faith, hope and love abide, these three. But the greatest of these is love.” I Corinthians 13:13.

Let’s try to make this world a better place for ourselves, our children, and fellow beings of the world.

Don’t just wish everyone a “Happy New Year!!” Make it a happy year for yourself and for others.